Poker is a card game in which players wager chips into a pot with the aim of winning the hand. It is a game of chance, but the outcome of a particular hand depends in part on the luck of the draw and in part on each player’s strategy. Players must manage their bets carefully, and it is important to know how to say a few basic phrases when playing.
When it is your turn to bet, you can say “call” or “I call” to put the same amount in as the last person. This way, you don’t lose your whole stack if someone has a good hand. If you have a better one, then you should say “raise” to increase your bet and try to force weaker hands out of the showdown.
After the flop, you can stay in the hand by saying “stay” or fold if you think your hand is low and don’t want to bet anymore. If you are unsure about which to do, ask a more experienced player for help and watch some videos of Phil Ivey taking bad beats to see how the pros do it.
Most poker books will tell you to always play your strongest hands, like a pair of aces or kings and queens of the same suit. However, that isn’t a very good approach for beginners or anyone else who wants to have fun while still trying to win.
